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Possessing patience, self-awareness, and experience; knowing when to step out as a leader, is essential for a jazz musician. David Cook, originally from Columbus, OH, is an artist armed with these qualities in abundance, and combining them with an undeniably massive talent as a pianist/composer, allows his artistry to radiate beautifully through every note on his debut recording, Pathway. The recording, featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Mark Ferber, was lovingly produced by fellow pianist and mentor, Bruce Barth, was released on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records on December 7, 2010.

After many years, and currently, working as a pianist on the New York scene with musicians such as Lizz Wright, Alan Ferber, Donny McCaslin, Lew Soloff, Sunny Jain, John Ellis, Nir Felder, Matt Wilson, Victor Wooten, Shane Endsley, Dennis Chambers, and pop artists N-Sync (during the heyday of their career), Taylor Swift (recently joined her band as her new Music Director), Justin Timberlake and Natasha Bedingfield, among many others, Cook felt it was the perfect time to leap into the role of bandleader and recording artist. "After spending years in New York learning and performing other musicians' works, I began to re-dedicate myself to writing. I found myself slowly absorbing all the different, beautiful musical influences I'd been surrounded by and channeling them into my own tunes. It'll take me years to fully process everything I've heard and learned during this time, but I thought a good way to start is with the classic piano trio setting. Mark Ferber and Matt Clohesy have been frequent bandmates of mine in different settings, and they have such a good hookup that I knew all I needed to do was write some tunes and get out of the way!", said Cook.

Pathway opens with "The Thing", a track that really exemplifies the many qualities this trio possesses, and sets the tone for the entire program. Cook explains, "The Thing is a blues in three with a New Orleans-inspired 2nd line feel, featuring a few trio-specific moments in the melody. The title comes from a particular combination of adult beverages after a gig, coined by my good friend (and excellent guitarist) Errol Cooney." The trio's astounding synergy and spirited playing continues on "Fresh Remnants", Cook's nod to the great Fred Hersch, specifically a particularly inspiring performance at The Village Vanguard Cook attended in late 2009. "This tune is my humble homage to the Fred Hersch trio, inspired by an especially moving performance at the Village Vanguard in 2009. As I pieced together memorable musical recollections from that evening a few weeks later, this stilted melody/form came together," said Cook. On "Napali" Cook brilliantly reflects the grandeur and isolation of the Napali coast in Hawaii, with Clohesy delivering a compelling solo that flows nicely into Cook's own powerful solo. "Robin's Song" is a lovely melody dedicated to Cook's late friend, composer/arranger Robin Wiley. The title track, "Pathway", represents Cook's trip into the realm of leading his own band, and is designed to have manageable chord changes so the trio could really let go and interact, as they do with aplomb throughout the entire recording. The album closes with an absolute gem, the gorgeous, soothing, yet simultaneously exciting Cook original, "Lullabye". Cook elaborates, "Lullabye is a tune I wrote several years ago; it started as a simple bedtime ballad but compositionally evolved into something of a soloistic vehicle that culminates with a soulful trio jam as an outro. It remains one of my favorite tunes to play."

As producer/pianist/composer Bruce Barth states in the liner notes, Pathway,"is the work of a dedicated artist who has found his authentic and clear voice as a pianist and composer. It is also a celebration of this trio listening, interacting, and making compelling music together."

David Cook's Pathway is available now on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records